Franz Gertsch
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
|
"While other photorealism painters such as Richard Estes and Ralph Goings favored images such as gleaming diners or glassy street scenes, Mr. Gertsch first gained attention as an observer of the Swiss counterculture."--Washingtonpost at time of death |
|
Related e |
|
Featured: |
Franz Gertsch (1930 – 2022) was a Swiss painter who was known for his large format hyperrealistic portraits. He was one of the very few European hyperrealists.
Contents |
Biography
Gertsch was born 1930 in Mörigen, Switzerland. Between 1947 and 1952 he studied with Max von Mühlenen and Hans Schwarzenbach in Bern. In 1972, he took part in the documenta 5 in Kassel with his painting "Medici". He is known for his realistic paintings and woodcuts for which he developed a new technique. From 1976 to 2013 he created a total of 28 paintings and 15 monochrome woodcuts, as per the fact that the Swiss photorealist worked on a single composition for up to a year. In 2002 Gertsch opened a Museum Franz Gertsch in Burgdorf. On the 8 March 2019, Frantz Gertschs birthday, the Museums expansion was inaugurated by the Federal Councilor Simonetta Sommaruga.
Gertsch died on 21 December 2022, at the age of 92 in Riggisberg in Canton Bern.
Early works (1969–1976)
- Huah (1969)
- Maria mit Kindern (1971)
- Medici (1971/72)
- Gaby und Luciano (1973)
- At Luciano's House (1973)
- Barbara und Gaby (1974)
- Marina schminkt Luciano (1975)
Main works (1978–2004)
- Patti Smith I, II, V (1978/79)
- Selbstbildnis (1980)
- Johanna I (1983/84)
- Silvia I (1998)
- Gräser I (1995/96)
- Gräser IV (1998/99)
Late works
Source:
- Herbst (2007/08)
- Sommer (2008/2009)
- Winter (2009)
- Frühling (2011)
Linking in at time of death
Christine Jackob-Marks, Documenta 5, Donald M. Hess, Goslarer Kaiserring, Howard Kanovitz, Hyperrealism (visual arts), Jobst Wagner, List of Swiss painters, Luciano Castelli, Ludwig Forum für Internationale Kunst, Museum Franz Gertsch, Photorealism, Pictet Collection, Timeline of art
